The Ultimate Photocopier Quiz

The photocopier has evolved from being a luxury to a necessity in any modern office. Many people take the performance of a photocopier for granted. Do you have any idea how these amazing machines produce exact copies of a document? Take our quiz and see if you copy.

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Question 1 of 15

What is the one basic physical principle that makes a photocopier work?

Opposite charges attract.

Like charges oppose.

Mirrors reflect light.

Question 2 of 15

What is a good way to see a simple version of the "opposites attract" principle in operation?

You can generate a static charge on a balloon by rubbing it on a sweater and see it attracting bits of paper.

Toner cartridges do not generally have a charge, but you can generate a static charge on a balloon by rubbing it on a sweater and stick it to a wall. You can do the same thing with a plastic comb by combing long hair briskly and then put it near to bits of paper and the paper will jump to the comb.

Both of the above.

Question 3 of 15

How does an image get from the paper onto the copier drum?

The drum is selectively charged by static electricity to match only the white spots on an original.

The drum is charged by static electricity, positive for black spots and negative for white spots on an original.

The drum is selectively charged by static electricity to match only the black spots on an original.

The drum is selectively charged by static electricity to match only the black spots on an original. Toner is attracted to the drum only where there is a static charge relating to the black on the original.

Question 4 of 15

How is selective static charging accomplished on a photocopier drum?

photo chromic reaction

intense light

The selective static charging of a photocopier drum is achieved by using light focused through lenses and mirrors.

photo opulence

Question 5 of 15

What electrical charge does toner carry before being exposed to a charged drum?

negative

Toner carries a negative charge before it is exposed to the drum, where the positively charged areas of the drum attract and hold toner.

positive

neutral

Question 6 of 15

What happens with your original document after you place it on the glass and press the start button?

The document is subjected to focused intense ultra violet light moving from one end to the other.

The document is subjected to focused intense infrared light moving from one end to the other.

The document is subjected to focused intense incandescent light moving from one end to the other.

The document is subjected to focused intense incandescent light moving from one end of the page to the other. Light is reflected from white areas of the paper to strike the rotating drum below.

Question 7 of 15

What is the electrical state of a drum before light is reflected onto it from your original?

The entire surface of the drum is charged with a positive charge.

The entire surface of the drum is charged with a positive charge. The light reflected by white areas of your original removes positive charge from the drum in the spots where light hits.

The entire surface of the drum is charged with a negative charge.

The entire surface of the drum is made neutral, carrying no charge.

Question 8 of 15

How does light manage to remove the positive charge from areas on the drum?

Wherever a photon of light hits the photoconductive drum, emitted electrons neutralize the positive charges. The dark areas on the original do not reflect any light leaving corresponding positive charges on the drum.

Toner is not an ink but rather a fine plastic-based powder that is negatively charged. In the old days, toner was made with carbon, which has been replaced by several different polymers to improve copy quality.

Question 10 of 15

What is the coating of photoconductive material on the drum usually made from?

selenium or silicon

germanium

both of the above

Many photocopier drums have a coating of a semiconductor called selenium on them to form a photoconductive coating. Silicon and germanium are also used for this purpose, but less frequently.

Question 11 of 15

How does toner that is held on the drum make its way to a sheet of blank paper to form a copy?

The paper is preheated so toner sticks to its warm surface as it passes above the rotating drum.

The paper is given a positive charge before it passes the drum and this charge pulls the toner onto the paper.

The paper is given a positive charge before it passes the drum and this positive charge pulls the toner away from the drum and onto the paper.

The paper is pushed hard against the drum by a second roller where the slightly tacky toner sticks.

Question 12 of 15

How does the toner manage to stay on the paper once the paper looses its positive charge?

Paper containing the image is heated and pressed in order to fuse the toner image to the paper.

The paper containing the image is heated and pressed in order to fuse the toner image to the paper. This is why toner is made from pigmented plastic beads, which melt, making a bond with the paper.

The copy of the image is sprayed with a fine mist of setter fluid and dried by a heating bar.

The paper is heated at the same time it is charged causing the toner to stick to the spots where it is attracted.

Question 13 of 15

What components inside a photocopier charge the drum and paper with a positive charge?

static collator

ion generator

corona wires

The corona wires inside the photocopier are electrified with a high voltage, which they subsequently transfer as a positive charge, to a drum or a blank piece of paper in the form of static electricity.

Question 14 of 15

What function does the lens have in a photocopier?

The lens serves to increase intensity and focus of light from the lamp onto an original document.

The lens serves to focus an image onto the drum below it and allow reduction or magnification of an image. Unfortunately, there is no lens to improve on the clarity of any original document.

The lens allows you to adjust fine focus of an image to improve clarity of your original onto an enhanced copy.

Question 15 of 15

What is the function of the fuser inside a photocopier?

Without allowing any sticking, the fuser must melt and press toner into the paper.

The function of the fuser is to melt and press toner into the paper containing a copy without any of it sticking to the fuser. The rollers of the fuser are heated with an internal quartz lamp and are coated with Teflon to prevent sticking.

The fuser shoots microwave energy at the copy without touching it in order to melt the toner into the paper.

The fuser interrupts power to your photocopier to protect it from damage due to an electrical problem.